PROVIDENCE, R.I., NORTHAMPTON, Mass., and AMHERST, Mass. -- The Bates men's outdoor track and field team split up into three different groups and turned in some outstanding performances over the weekend at the Providence College Friar Invitational, the Carla Coffey Invitational, and the UMASS Lafreniere Commonwealth Invitational. 

After competing at the trio of non-scoring meets, Bates is prepared to defend their state title at the 124th annual Maine State Pine Tree Classic, being held this Saturday at Colby College.

Providence College Friar Invitational Highlights

• Senior Andrew Mottur (Rumford, R.I.) shined in the 5,000 meters on Friday, racing to the finish in 14:34.16, the 5th fastest 5K in Bates men's outdoor track and field history. He placed 13th out of 48 competitors at the meet, finishing behind only D1 runners.
• In the rarely contested outdoor mile, junior Ross Tejeda (Milton, Mass.) recorded a time of 4:16.03, good for third on the Bates all-time performance list. First-year Nate Roberts (Summit, N.J.) clocked in at 4:20.62, ninth on the Bates all-time performance list.
• Junior captain Jackson Monz (Logan, Utah) placed seventh out of 29 runners in the 800 meters in 1:56.46.

Carla Coffey Invitational Highlights

• Senior captain Kevin O'Connor (Milford, Mass.) won the 100-meter dash in 11.16 seconds.
• The Bobcats took the top four spots in the 400 meters, with senior captain Truman Williams (Montclair, N.J.) winning in 50.53 seconds.
• First-year JJ Rocha (Cumberland, R.I.) won the 1,500 meters in 4:18.55.
• First-year Ryan Glaser (Rockport, Maine) qualified for New Englands and won the hammer throw with a top effort of 165-11 (50.58m).
• Junior Carson Moellering (Natick, Mass.) qualified for New Englands and placed fourth in the decathlon with a personal-record point total of 5,326. He set personal records in the pole vault (11-1.75), the shot put (34-10.5), the 110-meter hurdles (17.56 seconds), and the 400 meters (54.76 seconds). Meanwhile, he posted runner-up performances in the 1,500 meters in 4:52.61 and the high jump with a top clearance of 5-11.5 (1.82m).

UMASS Lafreniere Commonwealth Invitational Highlights

• After competing at Providence Friday night, Roberts headed to UMASS Amherst on Sunday and took second out of 63 runners in the 800 meters in 1:54.38, good for ninth on the Bates all-time performance list. Roberts finished behind only a runner from D1 University of Vermont. Meanwhile, senior Aidan Rooney (Bay Shore, N.Y.) placed fourth in 1:54.99. 
• Tejeda took seventh in the 1,500 meters in 4:00.59.
• Senior captain Ben Huston (Vergennes, Vt.) placed eighth out of 37 runners in the 5,000 meters in 15:13.53, qualifying for New Englands with his performance.